USAA Pet Insurance Review & Prices (2024)
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USAA, which stands for United Services Automobile Association, has offered financial products and services since 1922. The company provides numerous insurance policies, including auto, homeowners, renters, flood, life, health, and even pet insurance.
USAA’s pet insurance is offered through its partner Embrace, a company commonly rated as one of the best pet insurance providers nationwide. USAA members who get pet insurance through the company receive an automatic 15% off their premium. Active duty military members and those insuring multiple pets get extra savings up to a maximum discount of 25%.
We analyzed Embrace’s coverage, cost, customer reviews, and more to determine whether it’s worth it for USAA members. Learn more about Embrace’s pet insurance plans via USAA below.
How Did We Rate USAA Pet Insurance?
We scored USAA 93.5 out of 100. It offers customizable coverage, multiple ways to reach customer support, and a Wellness Rewards program to help cover the cost of preventive care. USAA customers get all the benefits Embrace offers, including the Healthy Pet Deductible reward that gives you a $50 credit each year you don’t file a claim.
Here’s how we rated it in key categories using our methodology:
- Monthly cost: USAA’s pricing for dogs is above average.
- Plan options: The provider offers wellness and emergency care in addition to standard coverage.
- Coverage: You’ll get thorough accident and illness coverage.
- Reputation: USAA has over a century of experience and an A+ BBB score.
- Customer service: You can easily reach the company through its online chat or customer portal.
- Eligible species: You can get insurance for both dogs and cats.
How Does USAA Compare to Other Pet Insurance Companies?
See how Embrace’s premiums and scoring compare to other top providers:
| Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $65.15 | $53.43 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $20.76 | $18.47 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $41.17 | $26.16 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE |
*Sample quotes are based on a $250 deductible, $5,000 coverage limit, and 80% reimbursement rate for a 4-year-old, mixed male dog in Raleigh, North Carolina.
**Embrace’s pricing includes the 15% USAA membership discount.
How Much Does USAA Pet Insurance Cost?
Pet insurance pricing depends on your location and your pet’s age, breed, and sometimes size. Your monthly premium also depends on the coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate you select during enrollment. USAA customers get multiple options for each of these factors through Embrace.
- Deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
- Maximum coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000
The low $200 deductible option is beneficial for those who don’t want to pay a high amount out of pocket before their coverage kicks in. Embrace’s reimbursement rates are comparable to other providers. However, its coverage limits are below par, with $30,000 being the highest option. Other providers offer unlimited coverage or coverage caps of up to $100,000.
Sample Pricing Premiums
We gathered sample quotes for an Embrace pet insurance plan in multiple U.S. cities. See average monthly premiums in the table below, including USAA’s 15% discount for members.
| Species/Breed | Average Monthly Premium in Albany, New York* | Average Monthly Premium in Houston, Texas* | Average Monthly Premium in Raleigh, North Carolina* | Average Monthly Premium in San Jose, California* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mixed dog |
$41.17 |
$46.12 |
$48.61 |
$27.21 |
|
French bulldog |
$94.78 |
$106.15 |
$111.89 |
$62.64 |
|
Golden retriever |
$61.76 |
$69.17 |
$72.91 |
$40.82 |
|
Yorkshire terrier |
$35.41 |
$39.24 |
$41.91 |
$23.46 |
|
Domestic medium hair cat |
$26.16 |
$27.11 |
$28.58 |
$16.00 |
*Sample quotes are for 4-year-old male pets using a $250 deductible, $5,000 limit, and 80% reimbursement rate.
Does USAA Pet Insurance Offer Discounts?
Though Embrace isn’t one of the cheapest pet insurance companies, it offers the most discounts of any other leading provider. Here are the discounts you may qualify for in addition to the $50 Healthy Pet Deductible:
- 10% multi-pet discount when purchasing a policy for two or more pets
- 10% discount if your employer offers Embrace as a voluntary benefit
- 10% discount for active military members
- 15% discount for USAA customers
Note: The military discount isn’t available in New York or Tennessee. The employee discount isn’t available in Florida, New York, or North Dakota and is reduced to 5% in Tennessee.
What Plans and Coverage Does USAA Offer?
Embrace offers an accident-and-illness plan with a two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. There’s also a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions, though it can be reduced to 14 days if you fill out a waiver. Pets 15 and older only qualify for accident-only coverage with Embrace.
The company’s accident-and-illness plan covers common vet treatments, such as the following:
Preventive Care
You can purchase a wellness plan in addition to the standard accident-and-illness plan. Wellness plans cover routine preventive care, such as annual checkups, grooming, and vaccinations. Embrace provides USAA customers with a Wellness Rewards program. This additional coverage option reimburses you for routine care up to 100% of your chosen annual limit. The annual limit options for this plan are $250, $450, or $650.
The Wellness Rewards program covers care including flea, tick, and heartworm medication, medicated shampoos, microchipping, prescription diet food, routine blood tests, routine vet visits, spay and neuter surgery, and teeth cleaning.
Note: The Wellness Rewards plan is not available in Rhode Island.
What Are USAA’s Coverage Exclusions?
Embrace does not cover the following:
- Avian flu
- Breeding, pregnancy, or whelping
- Conditions caused by neglect from you or anyone in your household
- Cosmetic and elective procedures such as ear cropping, dew claw removal, and tail docking
- DNA cloning or testing
- Preexisting conditions
Where is USAA Pet Insurance Available?
USAA offers Embrace’s pet insurance plans in all 50 U.S. states.
Find the Best Pet Insurance in Your State
How Do Customers View USAA Pet Insurance?
Since USAA’s pet insurance is through Embrace, we analyzed customer reviews for Embrace rather than USAA. Embrace has an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating* and overall positive reviews. Customers most commonly complained about claim denials, with many saying their pet’s conditions were wrongly labeled as preexisting. Rate increases were another common gripe.
“I have been an Embrace client for going on nine years. I carried two coverages; Wellness Rewards and Accident and Illness. Their service has been excellent regarding handling of my claims. I could not ask for a better partner in caring for my furry companion.”
Tom C. via BBB
“Like many insurers, they will bend every word and phrase in the insurance agreement to their benefit in order to deny coverage, and they have provisions in their policy that are one-sided and irrational to the point of absurdity.”
Andrew H. via BBB
“Embrace is a great pet policy, especially the wellness plan that is offered also!! The customer service is amazing and helpful!”
Stephanie D. via BBB
“As comforting it is to have health insurance for my cat, the rate increases are atrocious. I insured my pet a year ago, passed all of the inquiries and waiting periods, paid on time every month, and this week, I received an email explaining that my monthly payment will be increasing by almost twenty bucks for this coming year. When I called and asked about it, the representative explained that the rates increase by 25-35% per year due to the pet’s age.”
Nicholas S. via BBB
*BBB rating is current as of February 2023.
Is USAA Pet Insurance Worth It?
USAA offers pet insurance through Embrace at a discounted rate. Its coverage, exclusions, and waiting periods are comparable to other leading companies. However, it’s more expensive than a few other top-rated providers and has low annual coverage limits.
Getting an Embrace plan through USAA is a good option if you have other USAA policies and want to save money. We recommend comparing at least three providers before enrolling in a pet insurance policy. Some of our top picks are Lemonade, Spot, and Healthy Paws.
FAQs About USAA Pet Insurance
Does USAA home insurance cover dogs?
USAA’s home insurance does not cover dogs, but the company provides pet health insurance for dogs and cats through its partner, Embrace.
Is it worth shopping around for pet insurance?
Yes, it’s worth shopping around for pet insurance. We recommend comparing at least three providers to find the best policy for your budget and pet’s needs. Carefully read providers’ coverage details to understand what is and isn’t covered under each plan, and get a quote to see what your monthly premium will be before deciding on a company.
How much should you spend on pet insurance for dogs?
How much you should spend on pet insurance for a dog depends on your budget and the coverage you want. Monthly premiums for dogs range from $20 to $65 among top pet insurance providers, and some cost even more. Start by looking at providers’ coverage to find a plan that fits your dog’s needs, then get a sample quote to compare prices and find a company within your budget.
What type of dog insurance is best?
Add FAQ We recommend Lemonade, Spot, Embrace, and Healthy Paws for their high BBB ratings, comprehensive coverage, well-rated customer service, and reasonable pricing.content here.
Our Rating Methodology
We are dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
